Setting some guidelinesMembers of the Russellville Historic District Commission (RHDC) met with Van Christiansen last Friday to discuss plans for Christiansen’s building at the corner of West Main Street and South Commerce Avenue in Russellville. Christiansen and the RHDC have been trying to come to an agreement concerning the renovation of the building. The RHDC has concerns that the renovations being made will not blend in with the original/retro look of the rest ...

The Courier office closing for holidayThe Courier office will close at noon on Thursday and will not publish a paper on Friday due to the holiday. The Courier will publish Saturday and Sunday editions and will reopen offices at 8 a.m. on Monday.

Fire station plans nearly completeRussellville City Council members voted 5-3 during their December meeting last week to authorize Mayor Randy Horton and City Clerk Kathy Collins to enter into an agreement for a professional review of current plans and drawings for constructability and cost budgeting analysis on the proposed new Central Fire Station. During a meeting before the council convened, architect H.F. Brown of Jackson, Brown and Palculict told city officials that plan...

Second annual CASA Christmas Party heldCASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the 5th Judicial District brought the joy of Christmas to Pope County foster kids on Dec. 11. The annual party was made possible by the generosity of a local Giving Tree Grant, a sponsorship by ConAgra, Russellville’s Junior Auxiliary and many other members of the community. One of the unique things about this event, is every child receives a gift they put on their list to Santa. This wonderful event...

Council approves $12.4 million budgetThe Russellville City Council approved its 2016 budget during its regular meeting Thursday night. Anticipated revenues totaled $12,456,515, total expenses came in at $12,433,311, with an anticipated leftover of $23,204. Mayor Randy Horton thanked the council members and department heads for their work and patience during the budget process, which began weeks ago. Resolutions were approved to adopt the Street Fund budget, the Special Funds budg...

JBS makes annual donationJBS (formerly Cargill Pork) recently presented its yearly donation with all proceeds from the company’s 15th annual smoked pork loin fundraiser to River Valley United Way. The three-day fundraiser, assisted by volunteers with Arvest Bank, was able to raise $21,928.74. This year marks the company’s highest amount raised. The company also donated over 100 pork loins to local food pantries and nonprofit help networks.

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Transmission line work may begin in 2017GUYMON, Okla. — Officials with Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners say construction could begin in 2017 on a planned 700-mile transmission line to carry wind-generated electricity across Oklahoma and Arkansas into Tennessee. The planned Plains & Eastern Clean Line would carry the wind power from as-yet undeveloped wind farms in the Oklahoma Panhandle to Memphis, Tennessee, where it would connect to the Tennessee Valley Authority. Mario Hu...

New academic options coming soon to ATUStudents on the Russellville and Ozark campuses of Arkansas Tech University could soon have new educational opportunities following action by the institution’s Board of Trustees during its meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center on Thursday. Trustees approved two letters of notification brought forth by the Arkansas Tech College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. One of the letters concerns the creation of a biomedical ...

Commission reflects on good yearMembers of the Oakland Cemetery Commission were told during their regular meeting Wednesday that cemetery lot sales totaled $7,500 in 2015. City Finance Director Jerry McKaughan said that was an increase of $6,000 from the $1,500 in cemetery lots sold in 2014. Director Stephanie Warwick told commissioners the columbarium should be delivered next week. She credited Public Works employees for their work on pouring the foundation for the columbar...

Up and overA large crane boom hovered over the Russellville Downtown Historic District a few days this week as work has continued on the Old Bank Bar & Grill at the corner of North Commerce Avenue and West Main Street. The establishment will be a dining and entertainment venue.

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community photo: Tyson's pledge to fight hungerTyson Foods Live Production manager Lance Martin presented a program at a recent meeting of the Russellville Kiwanis Club. Tyson is one of the largest employers in the area and had $37.5 billion in sales in 2014. After donating 100 million pounds of food over the past 15 years, Tyson is making a new commitment to hunger relief. Announced in September 2015, Tyson is pledging $50 million in cash and in-kind donations over the next five years in ...

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Steps being taken toward step repairsThe Pope County Library is in the process of getting a quote to fix a section of the steps on the north side of the library that have been roped off since spring 2014. They are the original steps from when the library was first built in 1976 and have eroded and crumbled to the point they were deemed unsafe. Due to budget cuts, the library has been unable to have the steps fixed, but is in the process of getting a quote. Since the library is sh...

Ribbon cutting for Arvest BankArvest Bank — West Main recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The bank is located at 3005 West Main Place. For more information call 479-498-4866.

Morrilton Packing Co. recalls pork productsWASHINGTON — Morrilton Packing Co. is recalling approximately 12,146 pounds of boneless ham products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced recently. The product contains soy, a known allergen, which was not declared on the product label. The boneless hickory smoked honey ham was produced on Oct. 1, and Oct. 4, 2015. The following products are subjec...

Panel, owner to resume talksMembers of the Russellville Historic District Commission (RHDC) will meet at a building at Main Street and Commerce Avenue to help the owner get back on track to finish renovations. Architect Bob Hiegel and building owner Van Christiansen said they could meet with RHDC Chairman Greg Barborek on Friday morning to look at a couple of issues that remain before the owner can receive a certificate of appropriateness (COA) for renovation from the co...

ATU to honor fall 2015 graduatesArkansas Tech University will confer approximately 640 degrees during fall 2015 commencement ceremonies at John E. Tucker Coliseum in Russellville this weekend. Students earning degrees from the Arkansas Tech Graduate College will participate in a 7 p.m. ceremony on Friday, Dec. 18. The 10 a.m. ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 19, will include candidates from the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business and the College of Education. I...

City Corp. chairman bids farewell“Nobody notices water or sewer, until it quits working. Then everybody notices it.” Frank Russenberger presided over his last meeting as chairman and member of the City Corp. Board of Directors on Tuesday. Russenberger, who served on the board for five years, said he served with some excellent people who have come and gone during that time. “I am very proud of the board we have,” he said. “The four remaining members are outstanding, the work t...